Chapter 4: Mysterious town

John, Philip and Elizabeth wake up in the middle of a stony path. The air around them was so moist and putrid, it made them want to throw up, but they held it in and began to examine their surroundings.

"What is this place?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm unsure." Philip responded.

As Elizabeth and Philip talked among themselves, John was completeand utterly terrified. The flashing images and memories of the horrors that happened there. John wanted to scream his heart out but he knew that it would be pointless to do so. As they walked through the thick fog following the stony path ahead, they couldn't help but realize, that something, was off. Like as if they were being watched by all directions at the same time. An uneasy feeling of, dread, despair and bloodlust filled the atmosphere. They continued walking for who knows how long. Then suddenly they see a light in the distance. Philip and Elizabeth lighted with joy started to run towards the light, but John grabbed them by the shoulders and said with a quivering voice.

"Be careful, Don't let them fool you."

Philip and Elizabeth confused, they turn around to look at John. John's skin was completely pale, with a blank expression of pure terror, staring, straight ahead of them. Elizabeth try to laugh and brush it off, but Phil could see that John was not playing around. Yes John is a scaredy cat sometimes and jokes around to not exposed to terror that he has, but this was serious, genuine, pure terror. As Phil and Elizabeth try to talk John out of it, they shut their mouths when they saw John, slowly pointing his hand behind them. They looked behind them and saw. A woman with pale golden skin, with luscious black hair, a medieval maid outfit, majestic glowing yellow eyes, and cartwheel hat. John and this lady we're looking at each other directly in the eyes, and Philip instantly realized this, and try to keep his cool. Then the lady said in a honeyed toned voice.

"Y'all seem lost. May I guide you to my hometown?"

As the woman stood there lifelessly staring at John, John knew what had to be done. John closed his eyes for a moment, and start walking towards the lady. Elizabeth yelled.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?"

But John looked back at her with a cold blank expression on his face. John stopped a couple feet from the lady, suddenly it was eerily silent, no wind, no sound of creepy crawlies, just pure silence. John and the lady stared at each other for moment. Then John said in a dead cold serious voice.

"Lead the way."

Philip and Elizabeth was shocked on how serious John was. Philip hasn't seen John this serious in a long long time. To Philip, the last time John was this serious, it scared him and others around him to the very core. Elizabeth confused on what to do, Philip knew that if John was this serious, he should have his guard up at all times. As the lady leads the group through the village. Elizabeth and Philip are talking about John. Elizabeth wanted to know why she never seen this side of John before, and Philip explains the following; "When Philip and John where children they would be extremely bullied, so much so that they will have to move multiple times. but then one day a kid hit John on the right side of his head with a brick, causing him to gush out with blood. John first realizing this was horrified but then suddenly, his face turned completely emotionless. John looked at the bully with a cold dead stare. The aura that John had at that moment horrified everyone around him especially Philip. John slowly got up then pounced at the bully, brutally beating him. So much so that the bully had to scream for mercy. As the bully screamed and limped home, when John came back to his senses, he realized something was very wrong with him. When we told our parents about what happened, they was about to punish him but then I suggested that they should take John to the hospital. They tried to give John pills to help with his, condition. But they only made it worse and worse. Until they're great grandmother prayed for him. Ever since then he's been normal average John, but in some situations he will get extremely serious. So serious that he will become like that."

"So basically it's still John, but scary serious? And it's like an on and off switch?" Elizabeth's asked.

"Yes and yes." Philip said.

Minutes go by and the fog becomes less thick, they finally arrive to the village. The village looks a little bit destroyed and abandoned with faint lights in the light post and in front of the houses. Some of the people outside of the houses just stairs at them with their animalistic eyes as they walk by. John back to his normal self runs behind Philip and fear and asks him.

"What should we do?"

"I don't know yet, let's just keep following this lady, and watch your step."

The lady led them to a strange cabin.

"Stay here as long as you like!" The lady said cheerfully.

Feeling like they have no other choice. Elizabeth finally asked the lady.

"What is your name? and what is this place?"

"My name is Nydia, and this humble town is called, Aval."

John suddenly had a flashback of the Y.V.P. / Yuno Virtual Pod. Which is a universal artificial intelligence with biological components. Confused, John decided to ignore it and move on.

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